Automatic baling-machine.



R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1912. 1,040,278. Patented 0012.8,1912.

l5 SHBET8-BHBET 1.

R. A. COLLINS. AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAILII, 1912.

1,040,278. Patented 001;. s, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET B.

amqcwlioz Qbi/lmeowo I I M g I A COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

AIPLIOATION nun JAIL 11, 1912.

1,040,278. Patented 001. 8, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. A. COLLINS. AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED Juml, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED JANJI, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912 16 EKBETB-BHEET 6.

R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

yruonmn mum JAN. 11, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912 15 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1912.

R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

R. A. COLLINS.-

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED JAIL-11, 1912 Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

16 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

R. A. COLLINS. AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED IANJI, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

flay 3 awve mfoz R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun JAlLn, 1912.

1,040,278. Patented 0012.8,1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

i? I ,dllmlihlllllllllllll wi/ maowo R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

- I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11, 1912. 1 ,O40,278 Y Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

16 8HEETS-SHEET 11.

. I'll 8140a mroz C04 @409 ZLL, 61 Houwq R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILED JAN. 11, 1o1 2.

MN\ $fl NQ 2 2 R U m m N m w 00 m V m are 0 m d n w 8 M m m a R; A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE. APPLICATION rum JAN.11, 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

M1 umj .5

IN VEN T 01;

a Atlomey R. A. COLLINS.

AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED JAILII. 1912.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

INVEN JR %7 a, fl/ Allan/1y I WITNESSS R. A. COLLINS. AUTOMATIC BALING MACHINE.

1,040,278. APPLIJATION FILED JAKJI, 1012. Y Patented Oct. 8,

III 146 5225 5 I45 'JZ'ciJZ E E5 59 INVENTOR. WIN s 3 8 ,7 a a M I38 1 Allorfley UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY A. COLLINS, OF GERSTER, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC BALIN G-MACHIN E.

' To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, ROY A. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gerster, county of St. Clair, and State of issouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Baling- 1 Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic baling machines.

The invention has-for its objects the pro-- .Vision: of a new machine, embracing new adapted to autointo a baling chamber, condense 01: pack it a in said chamber, compress the hay into the form of a bale, and while retaining the bale under compression, tie or wire it, and finally automatically ejectthe completed bale and resume the .series of operations set forth.

In carrying out my invention I provide a 'baling-zehamber having novel gates adapted to-s'ub-d'ivi de it into upper and lower parts 2.5. fdensing top, whereby the hay may be fed into the baling chamber and subsequently in'the lowermost of which the compressing or bale-forming plunger operates, and a conforced by the movable top into the lower 'part thereof for subsequent compression by the baling plunger. I

I- also provide novel feeding mechanism consisting offorks adapted to pass the hay into the baling chamber and which are retrac'ted and projected in a new manner; further, a new self-feeding hopper which agitates the hay and delivers it tothe feeders.

The invention consists, further, in automatic means operated by. the pressure of the hay forced into'the upper part of the'bahng chamber whereby when the desired or predetermi'ned'density of the hay fed into the chamber is obtained, the movable top is brought into operation and the feed stopped to permit forcing of the hay in the baling chamber.

There is also provided in carrying out the invention, novel gearing and means cooper- .at-ing with the baling plunger by which said plunger is run into the baling chamber to compress the hay therein and to form the bale, is maintained while the bale is being wired or bound, then made to automatically eject the bale, and finallyis retracted to its normal position readyfer refilling. of the Specification of Letters Patent.-

Application filed January 11, 1912. Serial No. 670,723.

Patented Oct. 8, i912.

mechanism to effect the binding of the bale.

The invention embodies mechanisms, combina'tions of parts, and elements as set forth more fully hereinafter but the subjoined description is to be deemed as illustrative, rather than restrictive, of the invention and I do not limit myself to the precise details appearing hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine, the baling chamber being shown broken and thesupport or truck for the machine being omitted; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the machine where the bale is ejected; Fig. 3, a detail perspective of the parts at'the lower end of Fig. 2, showing .one of the wire clamping'hooks and the latch for the gate of the baling chamber; Fig. 4, an elevation of the ,receiving. end of the machine, the hopper being omitted; Fig. 5, a plan, the hopper being omitted; Fig. 6, a side elevation taken opposite to Fig.1; Fig. 7, a bottom plan; Fig. 8, a cross-section on line 88, Fig. 7 Fig. 9, a detail plan of the hopper showing its relation to the feeders; Fig. 10, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 11, a detail perspective of one of the feeders and associated parts; Fig. 12, a vertical section therethrough; Fig. 13, a detail of a cam of Figs. 11 and 12; Fig. 14, a detail perspective of certain gears and. devices for operating the plunger, presser, gates, baling mechanism, etc.; Fig. 15, a detail of'one of the gears of the set shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 16, a vertical section through Fig. 15;;Fig. 17 a detail of a latching mechanism for one of the gears; Fig. 18, a detail of certain devices used for latching the gearing; Fig. 19, a detail of a certain pinion; Flg.v 20, an

inside detail face view of the devices for operating the plunger;.-Fig. 21,, an edge view looking toward the left hand edge of the gearing of Fig. 14:; Fig. 22, is an en-. larged side elevation of the bale wiring mechanism Fig. 23, a side elevation of the bale wiring twistin mechanism, looking from the interior 0 .the baling chamber;

Fig: 24,. a cross-section on line 24e24;,'Fig.- 22;F1g. 2-5, a detail of'the inner and outer shafts which drive the twisting 'wire and cuttin mechanism; Fig. 26, a' detailvie'w' of 0113 .27 a similar view of the other side thereof; 7 r .Fig. 28, .a detailside View of the twisting.

side of the cutting mechanism;

mechanism; Fig. 29, as'detail "perspective of ,on'e'of the wire clamping mechanisms; Fig.

. 30, a detail cross-secticnof (meet the twisting wheels; Fig; 31,.a face view thereof;

Fig. '32,; a dlagram showing the arrange;

ment of one of the wires for the first bale; Fig. 33, a similar view' showing the' first .movement ofa crosswise-dperating needle;

' Fig. 3 1, a similar view showing the'c osswise-operating needle in position after it the baling, chamber and 'a looping "needle has carried the wireto the opposite-side of after it has caught the wire and formed the loop; Fig. 35, a diagram illustrating the operation of the clamp, twister, and cutter;

Fig. 36,

severed and held by the cutter, and the crosswise-operating 'needle retracted;- Fig, 37', a diagram showing the. plunger carrythe'wire forward'whileejecting the pre-" ing ' vi ously" wired bale; Fig. 38 a view showing the wlrepressed by the plunger into en-,- gagement with the catches and the wired.

bale completely ejected; and Fig; 39, a. view of the twist-formed in'wiring thebale.

Themachine will be suitably'sup'ported n a wheeled: truck, by preference, so that "it may be readily moved from placeto place according to conditions of use, but 1t may be stationarily supported in any desired- --.x nanner. r The'baIing box or chamber is composed of an upperrecelving chamber land a 'l'ower compression chamber 2 having the same slde walls, closed at the compression end by a gate hereinafter .described, open at the. other end, and having aforesald chamand 4 which are adaptedto slide'through slotsin the walls thereof,these g'atesbeing normally closed while the hayis being fed into therecelving chamber andbelng'adapted to automatically separate or open 1 to I permit the: hay -to be condensedinto the compression chamber below said gates at a certain time for subsequent compression by the plunger into a bale. v v the hay and its passmg.

Condensing of into the compression chamber is accomag'similar' view showing the bale 1 completely wired, theloosfe end of ,the wire springs, until an open top. The baling' I box is subdivided into the bers bythe horizontally movable gates 3 plished by a vertically movable'top or compressor 5 carried by .cross barsG sliding in vertical-guides 7 the parts being so timed and related in their operation that this compressing top does not interfere with the horizontally movable gates. Theplunger 8."

is movable in the compressionchamber'and suitably fits it, being provided with a rack 9 which is operated at certain times. as will more fully appear hereinafter.

is [provided with a suitable belt pulley or E xtending across the machine at the re celving end thereof, is a drive shaft 10 which other means for its rotation froina suitable motor.

This shaft has pinions 11 which I I mesh with horizontal gear tables'12 of the f'eeder s,- Figs. 9, 10 and-11. Rising from the v gear tables-are, framesg13 to which and to the gear tablesare pivoted the rockableforks 14 whose tines "are preferablycurved so that. they may more readily withdraw from the hay and clear the :t'op compressor when it is descending or ascending. Passing centrally upwardthrough the platform '15 onywhichthe, gear tables are supported are. the cranks'16 which pass loosely through.

the gear tables at 17 and are provided with squared parts 18 disposed above the gear tablesi Engaged with the squared parts 18 and held onthe cranks by. nnts 19 are cams 20 which are thus held stationary or shifted according as the cranks are turned. The cranks16 are connected by pitmen 21 to a;

crankshaft 22 which is provided with a gear 23 which, at a predetermined time, is turned by mechanism to be described hereinafter to therebyshift the-cams. The forks 1. 1 are provided with arms 24; having rollersf25 position that the forks hay and forced it toward the upper or rewhere they would be struck by the compress .ing cover or top and are also by this retracting action drawn out from the hay so that they clear ';it and do not interfere with its deposit in the receiving chamber above the sliding gates. These alternate extensions and retractions ofthe forks continue until a certain cycle of operations has been undergone, whereupon the hay passedinto the receiving chamber is forced downwardly into the compression chamber, whereupon the shaft 22 is turned so that the forks will be retracted when'in position for feeding, and hence will not feed the hay into the re? is descending.

The shaft 10 18 provided war a pinion 21 'ceiving chamber while the compressin g top 50 "bar 6' that operates the'compressor 5.. As

'meshing with gear 31.

which meshes with a. gear 28 on a shaft 29. Immediately next the gear 28 is a pinion 30, secured to shaft 29, which meshes with a gear 31 on a shaft 32. There isa crank shaft 33 which is provided with a pinion 34 The hopper 35 (Figs. 9 and 10) is kicked up and down or vibrated by a pitman 36 connected to a crank-shaft 33 and pivoted to the bottom of the hopper. The forward edge of the hopper is loosely entered under retainers 37 (Fig. 9) secured to the platform, permitting the forward end of the hopper to have up and down play. The hopper-is provided with a stepped or riflied agitator 38 which facilitates the feeding of the hay to the space between the feeders on to the platform Where it may be moved by the feeders into the receiving chamber of the baling box. To assist inthe su port and steadying of the hopper, there are provided rockers 39 pivoted to the bottom of the hopper and to the frame 1 of the machine (Fig. 1). The hopper is continuously vibrated up and down.

Loose on the end of shaft 32 opposite the gear 31 is an operating gear wheel 40 which is made fast to or disengaged from the shaft according to the position of a latch 41 (Fig. 14) which is pivoted to the gear 40 at 42 and is pressed by a spring 43 so that its normal tendency is for its head 44 to engage the clutch wheel 45 fast on the shaft 32 and consisting of spaced disks connected by pins 46 on which are anti-friction rollers 47. The

.' head 44 is adapted to be engaged by one-of therollers 47, thus latching the wheel 40 to the shaft. This latching or release of the wheel is controlled by'a trip 48 mounted to slide vertically in 'a bearing 49 on the frame and suspended by spring 50. The latch is operated by a rod or lever 51 which is fulcrumed. at 52 on the frame of the machine and has an end 53 (Figsfl and 7) positioned to be engaged by the crank 54 (Fig. 7) of shaft 55 which is journaled in the frame of the machine and extendsflthereunder, said.

shaft having acrank arm 56 on its opposite end, the cranks 54 and 56 being connected by rods 57 (Figs. 1 and'6) to the rear cross cured to'the other cross bar 6. As shown in I Fig. 7, a shaft 61 extending lengthwise of the machine thereunder is connected by gears 62 to the respective shafts 55 and 58 whereby on turning of the crank shaft55,

the compressor 5 will be operated and 'du re ing such operation it will-engage the end 53 "of the rod or lever 51,rais1ng ,the trip 48 and releasing the latch 41 to permit-it to be locked to the shaft, 32, thereby causingthe' operatingwheel 40' toturn with the shaft 32 the forks to prevent feeding of the hay and to avoid interference with the descent of the compressor 5 when the latter is to operate.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 14 to 18, the shaft 9 is provided with a clutch 63 of the same form as the clutch 45, etc., of Fig. 14 previously described, and there is loose on said shaft 29 a master wheel 64 to \vhichis pivoted at 65. a latch 66 pressed by a spring 67 and adapted to engage the clutching device 63 when the latch is released. The latch is, however, normally-held free of engagement with the clutch 63 by engagement-with the head 68 thereof (Figs. 1 and with a" laterally extending trip 69 on a longitudinally slidable rod 70 (Figs. 1. 7 and 1S)"ex tending along the side of the ba'lingbox under the gates 3 and 4 t ereof to the expulsion end of the baling ox. As shown in Figs. land 18, the trip 69 is urged'uplower'endis loosely seated at 72 in the frame '1, said rod being urged upwardly by a spring 73. The mounting of the rod 71 .at- 72 is such that the rod 71 can swing according to the movement imparted to the rod 70 so that the trip 69 can be withdrawn from the head 68 vof the latch 66 (At the rear end of the compression chan her is .a pressure member-or false end 74 igs. 2, 4 and '8) which is prov ed, ith Its 75 passing through it-and I011! the end 76 of said receiving chamoer .md ,there are .wardly by a vertically movable rod 71 Whose springs interposed between the false end 74 and the end 76 Whose tension can be regulatedby' adjusting the nuts 77 (Figs. 2 and 5)- so that this pressure membermay be tensioned to'withstand any desiredpressure of the hayin the receivin chamber above the gates 3 and 4 beforeyielding. Securedto therenter of the pressure-member is a bolt 78 having adjustable 'nuts 79- andextending loosely through the end 76. Loose on the projectin end of this bolt is the arm' 80 of the rod or ar 7 0. lVhenthe pressure of *hehai fed into'the receivingchamber abovethe ates 3 and 4 and below the compres'sor 5' eco 'nes such that the pressure member-74 yields, the rod or bar 70 is shifted longitudinallyand moves thetrip 69 (FigsJl and 18), thus releasing the head 68 of the latch 66, whereupon the spring 67 causesthe said latch to snap nto engage 40 the receiving chamber, and the cams 20 are 11161113 with the continuously rotating clutch 63 andfconsequently, at that time, the master gear 64 is locked to the shaft 29 and turns with it, thereupon bringing about operations which will-subsequently appear.

Referring now'more particularly to Figs.-

' 14, 15, 16 and 18, the master gear 64 .is provided on its face opposite that carrying the latch 66, with gear segments 81 and 82 and with blank arc-shaped tracks 83 and 84 whoseends terminate where the ends of the gear segments 81 and 82 begin, the tracks 83 :and84 beingin substantially the same plane as the gear segments aforesaid, there hem -omitted or cut-out parts 85 and 86 onthe wheel 64 'exteriorly of the segments 81' and 82 and between the ends of the tracks '83 and 84.

Secured to. a part of the frame 1 is a bearing block 87, Fig. 14. Journaled in this hearing block but entirely disconnected V from each other, are shafts 88, 89, and 90.

' The .shaft 88.is provided with a gearwhich' meshes with the gear 23 on the crank shaft 22 and means are thus provided for driving the crank shaft 22, there being a mutilated gear 91 (Figs. 14,15 and 16) on the shaft 88, the blank parts 92 and 93 of this gear I or pinion being located opposite. to each other and adapted to permit the passage of the tracks 83 and 84-during rotation of the wheel 64 without turning said gear.

The teeth of the gear 91 are adapted to'be engaged by the gear segments 81 and 82 so that the shaft 88 and crank shaft 22 are suitably turned duringeach complete revo-.

lution of the master wheel 64t0 so shift the cams 20 that the forks of the feeder will be and upward movements of the compressorh, that the forks will be retracted during their retract/ed when they are to withdraw from the hay, during the feeding of the'hay to so set and rotated during the downward entire rotation from engagement with the hay and consequently will not feed it to the receiving chamber.

The, shaft 89 has a mutilated gear 94 which" is of the construct-ion shown in Figs. 15 and, 16, being similar to the gear 91.

'This .shaft has a bevel gear 95 meshing with a corresponding gear on a crank shaft 96 which is suitably journaled in bearings 97 at the ends of the machine. The cranks of shaft 96 are connected by links 98 with the gate 4. On the opposite side of the machine there is a rock shaft 99 (Figs. 2 and 6) which is suitably journaled and is connected to the other gate 3. end of the press there 1s a connecting rod 106;Fig. 2, connecting a crank on the shaft At the delivery with the rock shaft 99. On the shaft shown in Figs 86 there'is a .gear 101 of the construction 15 and 16, being slmilar to the gears 91 and 94 and like them having Loa ers its mutilated parts adapted to slide against ride on the periphery of the master wheel 64 orsnap into the spaces 85 and 86 and the clutch .63 but upon clutching of the 'master wheel to the shaft 29, the spring'is' pressed outwardly by the shoulders at the ends of the tracks 83 and 84.

The gates 3 and 4 will remain in closed position, covering thelower or baling chamber, until the pressure of the, hay

forced into the receiving chamber becomes their 7 such as to move the pressure member 74,

whereupon the trip 69 is swung'free from the-latch 68, whereuponl'the latch engages the clutch 63, thus'locking the'master wheel tothe shaft 29, whereupon the master wheelturns in the direction of the arrow,'-Fig.'18.

The rotation (if-the master wheel thereupon bringsthe gear segment 81 opposite the pinion 94, whereupon the briefengagement of thesaid segment and pinion cause the gates 3 and 4 to open or separate and thereafter the mutilatedpart of the gear. 94 engages the track 84 which holds it stationary with the gates open.- Shortly thereafter'the rota tion of the master wheel 64has causedthe track 84 to become freed from the pinion or gear 91 which is then engaged .by-the gear segment 8 2, thus shifting the cams 20. to such positions that the forks will retractduring such parts of their rotation as 'norioe-i mally bring themin engagement. with the hay and consequently the feed of the hay ceases. The turning of the master wheel 'thereafter'brings the gear segments 81 into engagement. wlth the pinion 101 whereupon the compressor 5 is moved downwardly to force the hay into the baling chamber, the" 4 plunger being then in retracted position. A complete revolution of the master wheel 64 having ensued, the gates 3 and 4 have first .been opened, the compressor 5 forceddownwardly to press the hay into the 'baling.

chamber, the gates have been closed and the compressor elevated and I'the cams 20 shifted and then retracted to first stop feeding of the hay and then resume it. A knife 5 311 platform 15 'severs the hay so that the descent of compressor 5 is not interfered with. After a repetition of these operations, the crank 54 strikes the end 53'of the trip lever 51 thereupon releasing the trip 48 from the latch 41 which then engages the operating wheel 40 with the shaft 32' and the compression of the hay in .the bali-ng cham- .715 prevent idle turning of the wheel 64. The spring serves as a check tohold the masterwheel when the latch 66 is disengaged from able shaft journaled her, the stoppage of the plunger while the bale is being wired or bound, the operation of the wire baling mechanism occurs. the forward movementof the plunger is resumed, the gate of the baling box is opened and the bale ejected, and the plunger is retracted to normal position, the feeding of the hay into the receiving chamber above the gates 3 and 4 continuing during these operations, as will now appear.

Referring to Figs. 4, 6, 10 and 20. there are two shafts 105' and 106 extending crosswise of the machine at the receiving end and mounted in suitable bearings, the former of which has a pinion 107 meshing with the rack 9 which is connected to the plunger 8. The rack is held on the pinion 107 by a guide roller 108 which is carried by a suitin the frame-work 1. The shaft 105 carries two gears (Fig. 20) 109 and 110, gearllO being adapted to mesh w th the gear segments 111 and 112 of the gear 40, atdifi'erent times. The shaft 106 has two gears 113 and 114, the latter mesh ing with the gear 109 and the former being adapted to be turned by a gear segment 115 which is secured to the inner face of gear 40 in ofi'set relation thereto as shown in Figs. 20 and 21 and is provided with fingers 116 and 117 at its ends. The shafts 105 and 106 are driven solely from the gear 40 and through them the gear 107 is turned in one direction or the other and to agreater or lesser degree to accomplish the advance of the plunger in the compression chamber,

the stoppage of the plunger while the bale is being wired or bound, the further advance of the plunger on the completion of'the wiring or binding of the bale to eject the completed bale, and the return of the plunger to normal retracted position ready for compression of another bale.

Referring to Fig. 14, on the outer face of the gear 40 there is provided a nearly complete circular blank raised track 118. Laterally offset therefrom is the gear segment 119 which is of a length substantially the same as the distance between the ends of the track 118, or, a distance of the break therein. The gear 40 has a relatively long gear segment 111 and on the opposite end of its periphery a shorter gear segment 112, both of which are adapted to mesh. at different times, with the gear 110. The gear segment 115 begins, in slightly overlapped relation, where the gear segment 111 stops and ends at some distance from the terminus of the gear segment 112.

Referring to Figs. 10. 14 and 20, if it be assumed that in Fig. 20 the first tooth of those in the series 111 be starting to engage the pinion 110, the turning of the shaft 105 in the direction of the arrow, will cause a corresponding turning of the gear .107 and consequ ntly the rack 9 will be run into the compression chamber, advancing the plunger and compressing the hay, but when the plunger has reached the position where the halo is suitably compressed and is ready to be bound or wired.thc teeth 111 will become disengaged from the pinion 110. The smooth periphery 120 (Fig. 1-1), will then, on further turning of wheel 40 in the direction of the arrow. block any retrograde movement of the gear 110 and hence the plunger will remain where placed and the binding of the bale will he proceeded with as will presently appear. When the smooth portion 120 has passed the gear 110, the teeth 112 engage the gear 110 and still further advance the plunger which brings about the ejection of the completed bale from the baling chamber. ment of the teeth 112 from the gear 110, there is a slight pause in the movement of the plunger prior to its retraction. The continued rotation of the wheel -10 brings the teeth 115 into engagement with the pinion 113 which, through the gear 11-1, and pinion 109, causes a very rapid retraction of the plunger due to the reversal of rotation of the shaft 105. During these compressing, baling. and ejecting operations. the gates 3 and 1 have been closed and the bay has been continuously fed into the receiving chamber so that when the plunger has been retracted the teeth 111. after a brief period of rest. of the plunger in its retracted position, again engage the gear 110.and again force the plunger into the baling chamber to compress the hay but this operation does not occur until the mechanisms hereinafter described have opened the gates 3 and 4, drawn down the compressor 5 and said mechanisms have again resumed their normal positions.

Referring to Figs. 1, 11. 19. 21, there is suitably journaled at one side of the machine a longitudinally extending shaft 121 which operates the complete mechanism for binding or wiring the completed bale. This shaft carries at one end the gear or pinion 122 whose teeth are complete and are adapted to be engaged. for the purpose of turning the shaft 121, and thus operating said mechanism, by the teeth 119, such engagement occurring only when the plunger has been run into the baling chamber to compress and form the bale and during the inaction of the plunger operating mechanism, for itwill be observed that the gear segment 119 is placed between the gear segments 111 and 112 which are. respectively, for the purpose of running the plunger into the baling chamber to compress the bale. and, for ejecting the bale. As shown in Figs. 14 and 19, the pinion 122 has an integral disk 123 provided with a flattened portion 124 which is adapted to bear on the track 118 and thus prevent any turning of the shaft 121 during the en- 

